Slide fastener having separating end stop

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener having a separating end stop formed of male and female components secured to a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along the inner edges thereof and upper and lower opposed sliders movable to control engagement of the interengaging elements, the male and female components having outer surfaces contoured to contact side walls of the lower slider as the lower slider is moved along the components to pivot the components toward each other and stress the tapes. The stress on the tapes causes the outer surfaces of the components to bear against the side walls of the lower slider and move the lower slider along the components to a position covering the junctions of the components and the interengaging elements.

United States Patent 11 1 Moertel 1 Mar. 25, 1975 [75] Inventor: George B. Moertel, Conneautville,

[73] Assignee: Textron lnc., Providence, RI.

122] Filed: July 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 377,000

[52] US. Cl 24/205.11 R [51] Int. Cl A44b 19/36 [58] Field of Search 24/205.11 R, 205.11 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,910,404 5/1923 Prentice 24/205.1l R 1,960,202 5/1934 Carr 24/205 11 R 2,302,339 11/1942 Morin 1 24/205 11 R 2,553,230 5/1951 Bashover... 24/205 11 R 2,834.084 5/1958 Morm 24/205 11 R 2,989,791 6/1961 Morm 24/ 205 1 1 R 3,110,946 7 11/1963 Hara 24/205.1l R

Primary E.\'aminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant E.\'aminerDarrell Marquette [57] ABSTRACT A slide fastener having a separating end stop formed of male and female components secured to a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along the inner edges thereof and upper and lower opposed sliders movable to control engagement of the interengaging elements, the male and female components having outer surfaces contoured to contact side walls of the lower slider as the lower slider is moved along the components to pivot the components toward each other and stress the tapes. The stress on the tapes causes the outer surfaces of the components to bear against the side walls of the lower slider and move the lower slider along thecomponents to a position covering the junctions of the components and the interengaging elements.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATEHTEI] HAR25 I975 SHEET 2 or 2 FIGS FIG. 7

SLIDE FASTENER HAVING SEPARATING END STOP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to slide fasteners and, more particularly, to slide fasteners having separating end stops.

2. Description of the Prior Art Slide fasteners employing apair of opposed sliders to permit separation from both top and bottom ends are conventionally utilized in many articles, for example coats, Windbreakers, jumpsuits in the aviation field, as well as for various applications where a plurality of open and closed positions are desired from both the bottom and top of the slide fasteners. Generally, the fully open or separated position of the slide fastener is defined with both sliders at the bottom of the slide fastener such that a pin carried on one side of the bottom of the slide fastener can be disengaged from a tube carried on the other side at the bottom of the slide fastener. When it is desired to close the slide fastener the pin is inserted through the channels to be received in the tube, andthe upper slider is moved toward the top of the slide fastener to engage the interengaging elements. The slide fastener can be opened from the bottom by moving the lower slider toward the top of the 'slide fastener and can be opened from the top by moving the upper slider toward the bottom of the slide fastener.

Prior art slide fasteners of the above-described type have the disadvantage that, in order to assure that the interengaging elements are properly engaged, terminal portions of the slide fastener have been provided with a tongue and groove bottom stop arrangement in which the tongue and groove are substantially rectangular in cross section to provide a positive locating position; and, while this design has essentially solved the problem of improper engagement of the interengaging elements, it has been found difficult to open and close the slide fastener with such a design particularly when it is desired to move the lower slider upwardly from its lowermost position. Furthermore, in order to permit such slide fasteners to be separated at the bottom, the bottom stop components must be ofa length to accommodate the lower slider as well as the stem portion of the Y-shaped channel of the upper slider. Thus, when only the lower slider is positioned at the bottom stop, the junctions between the interengaging elements and the bottom stop components are exposed, and the lower slider is positioned at the end of the bottom stop components where it is susceptible to being trapped by the components preventing opening of the slide fastener without the application of undue force. Another disadvantage of such prior art slide fasteners is that the junctions between the interengaging elements and the bottom stop components are subject to lateral stress; and, since such junctions are exposed and constitute relatively weak points along the slide fasteners, lateral stress applied to the slide fasteners through the article has a tendency to separate the slide fasteners due to the high crosswise loading at the junctions between the bottom stop components and the interengaging elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally summarized in a slide fastener including first and second tapes carrying interengaging elements along the inner edges thereof, a slider movable to control engagement of the interengaging elements having a Y-shaped channel therethrough defined by side walls, and a separating end stop for limiting movement of the slider and permitting separation of the tapes formed of first and second components secured to the first and second tapes, respectively, and having spaced outer surfaces contoured to contact the side walls of the slider as the slider is moved along the first and second components such that the slider moves the first and second components toward each other to stress the tapes, the stress on the tapes causing the outer surfaces of the first and second components to bear against the side walls of the slider to move the slider along the first and second components.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a separating end stop for a slide fastener which eliminates trapping ofa slider by the components of the end stop.

Another object of the present invention is to design an end stop for a slide fastener to bias the slider towards a position covering the junctions of the interengaging elements and the components of the end stop to protect the junctions from lateral stress.

The present invention has an additional object in the contouring of the components of a separating end stop of a slide fastener such that movement of the slider along the end stop components stresses the tapes of the slide fastener to orient the slider partially up the end stop components when the slider is released.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide end stop components of a slide fastener with a configuration such that movement of the slider along the end stop components to an end position creates a tensile stress in the tapes of the slide fastener which causes the end stop components to bear outwardly against the side walls of the slider to move the slider part way up the end stop components to cover the junction between the interengaging elements and the end stop components.

Some ofthe advantages of the present invention over the prior art are that the slider can be easily operated without trapping or sticking due to the orientation of the slider part way along the end stop components, lateral stress at the junctions between the interengaging elements and the end stop components is prevented by the containing effect of the slider, and the appearance of the slide fastener is improved since the pull of the slider is not as obtrusive.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken front elevational view of a slide fastener according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. '3 is an enlarged side elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial rear elevational view of the slide fastener of FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken front elevation of the slide fastener of FIG. 1 with the lower slider in its normal closed position.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the slide fastener in the position shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged broken front elevation of the slide fastener of FIG. 1 with the lower slider in its lowermost position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the slide fastener in the position shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A slide fastener 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a pair of tapes 12 and 14 carrying interengaging elements 16 along the inner edges thereof defining a longitudinal center of the slide fastener. Opposed upper and lower sliders 18 and 20 are movable along the interengaging elements to control engagement thereof and permit opening and closing of the slide fastener from opposite ends. A top stop 22 is formed of members 24 and 26 secured to the inner edges of tapes 12 and 14, respectively, to limit upward movement of upper slider 18, and a separating bottom stop 28 is formed of a female component 30 and a male component 32 secured to tapes 12 and 14, respectively, to limit downward movement of lower slider 20 and to permit separation of the bottom of the slide fastener 10. Upper slider 18 and lower slider 20 are of identical construction and each has a Y-shaped channel therein, as is conventional, to control engagement of the interengaging elements 16. Accordingly, upward movement of upper slider 18 engages the interengaging elements 16 while downward movement of upper slider 18 disengages the interengaging elements; and, due to its opposite orientation, upward movement of lower slider 20 disengages the interengaging elements 16 while downward movement oflower slider 20 engages the interengaging elements.

The female component 30 of the bottom stop 28, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, is formed of a thickened elongate leg 34 having an outer side surface 36 and a substantially parallel inner side surface 38 from which transversely extends a wedge 40 tapering from a wide end 42 adjacent an end 44 of leg 34 toward a point 46 on inner side surface 38 spaced from an angled end 48 of the leg 34. The inner side surface 38 is laterally offset from point 46 to end 48, and wedge 40 has a groove 50 therein extending from wide end 42. Outer side surface 36 has a flared portion 52 terminating at end 48 to form a stop for lower slider 20. The elongate leg 34 has parallel top and bottom surfaces 54 and 56, respectively, extending between the inner and outer surfaces 36 and 38 and the ends 44 and 48, the top surface 54 having a beveled edge 58 adjacent end 44.

The male component 32, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, is formed of a thickened elongate leg 60 having an outer side surface 62 and a substantially parallel inner side surface 64, the leg 60 being offset at 66 to define a portion diverging from the longitudinal center of the slide fastener 10. A tongue 68 extends transversely from the center of inner side surface 64 and has an angled edge 70 aligned with the diverging portion of inner side surface 64 and extending from offset point66 to an edge 72 parallel with inner side surface 64. Edge 72 terminates at a thickened guide tooth 74 extending further toward a bottom surface 76 of leg 60 than toward a top surface 78 of the leg to provide an asymmetrical T-configuration with edge 72 of tongue 68 forming the stem and guide tooth 74 forming the cross bar. The top surface 78 has a beveled edge 82 adjacent an end 84 of leg 60, the leg 60 having an opposite rounded end 86 on the diverging portion to facilitate engagement of the male member 32 with the female member 30.

The female component 30 and the male component 32 are each integrally formed with tape reinforcing flaps 88 secured to opposite sides of tapes l2 and 14, respectively, such as by ultrasonic welding, the ends 44 and 84 of the components being spaced from the terminal interengaging elements 16 carried by tapes l2 and 14, respectively, such that the guide tooth 74 is received in the space between end 44 of female component 30 and the terminal interengaging element carried by tape 12, and the head element of the terminal interengaging element carried by tape 12 is received in the space between end 84 of male component 32 and the terminal interengaging element carried by tape 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

The slider 20 has a diamond 90 disposed at a head 92 between a pair of wings 94 which have transversely extending flanges 96 forming side walls 98 and 100 defining the Y-shaped channel through the slider, and the upper portions of legs 34 and 60 are designed to pass through the Y-shaped channel with the flared stop 52 dimensioned so as not to pass through the channel thereby preventing the slider 20 from being separated from the interengaging elements carried by tape 12. The configurations of the outer side surfaces 36 and 62 of the legs of components 30 and 32 are such that, with the interengaging elements 16 near the bottom stop 28 engaged, the outer side surfaces are spaced by a distance greater than the distance between the side walls 98 and 100 of the slider 20. This configuration or contouring can be accomplished by spacing laterally aligned portions of the outer side surfaces a distance greater than the greatest distance between the side walls of the slider, by spacing portions of the outer side surfaces a distance greater than the distance between the parallel portions of the side walls of the slider and providing the legs of the components with a length sufficient to permit the parallel portions of the side walls of the slider to engage the spaced portions, by providing the outer side surfaces with a diverging configuration having an included angle greater than the included angle between the diverging portions of the side wall of the slider, or by providing the components with any other design such that the slide fastener tapes are stressed by the components being forced together by movement of the slider.

When the slider fastener 10 is separated, it can be joined at bottom stop 28 by pulling the lower slider 20 down to its lowermost position abutting the flared stop 52 formed in female member 30, pulling the upper slider 18 down such that the flat ends of the upper and lower sliders are abutting, and inserting the end 86 of leg 60 of the male component 32 through the channels in sliders 18 and 20 such that the tongue 68 of component 32 is received in groove 50 in component 30 with guide tooth 74 disposed between end 44 of leg 34 and the terminal interengaging element on tape 12. The slider 18 can now be moved toward top stop 22 to close the slide fastener, and the slide fastener can be opened from the bottom by moving lower slider 20 away from bottom stop 28.

The slider 20 will normally be disposed in the position shown in FIG. 5 covering the junctions between the elements 16 and the male and female bottom stop components such that the legs 34 and 60 of the components and the interengaging elements 16 are captured in the Y-shaped channel of the slider by the side walls 98 and 100. Thus, the slide fastener is reinforced at the junctions to withstand lateral stress applied to the slide fastener through a garment or other article in which the slide fastener is installed. The tapes 12 and 14 have no stress applied thereto by the slide fastener elements with the slider in the normal closed position and, thus, are flat as shown in FIG. 6.

The manner in which the slider is oriented and maintained at the normal closed position part way up the bottom stop components is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the slider 20 is shown pulled to its lowermost position to abut flared stop 54. The movement of the slider along the legs 34 and 60 of the bottom stop components causes the side walls of the slider to contact the outer side surfacesof the legs and pull the diverging portions together pivoting about the lowermost point ofcontact of the tongue 68 in the groove 50, and the pivotal drawing together of the male and female components of the bottom stop 28 creates stress on the tapes l2 and 14 causing them to bulge, as shown at 102, the bulge 102 having a sectional configuration similar to a conical washer. The bulge 102 has a tensile stress around its periphery which causes the outer side surfaces of the legs of the components 30 and 32 to bear outwardly on the side walls of the slider and move the slider up the components until the stress is relieved. In this manner the bottom stop components are provided with a length sufficient to permit separation and joining of the halves of the slide fastener while assuring that the lower slider can be easily operated without trapping or sticking and reinforcing the junctions of the interengaging elements and the bottom stop components against lateral stress. That is, the outer side surfaces of the legs of the components 30 and 32 have diverging contours to contact the side walls of the slider as it is moved along the components to pivot the components and stress the tapes, the stress on the tapes biasing the slider toward the normally closed position covering the junctions of the interengagingelements and the components. The portions of the legs of the components 30 and 32 near the junctions have configurations corresponding to the configuration of the channel through slider 20, as best shown in FIG. 5.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown on the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is: I

l. A slide fastener comprising first and second tapes having inner edges and carrying interengaging elements along the inner thereof;

a slider having side wall means and movable to control engagement of said interengaging elements; said slider having a Y-shaped channel therethrough defined by said side wall means;

separating end stop means at one end of said first and second tapes for limiting movement of said slider and permitting separation of said first and second tapes; said end stops means formed of first and second components secured to said first and second tapes, respectively, and-having spaced outer surfaces contoured to contact said side wall means of said slider as said slider is moved in a direction toward the one end and along said first and second components to pivotally move said first and second components relative to and toward each other to stress said tapes, said stress on said tapes causing said outer surfaces of said first and second components to bear against said side wall means of said slider to move said slider in another direction away from the one end and along said first and second components;

said first component including an elongate leg having an inner surface; a wedge extending from said inner surface and having a groove therein;

said second component including an elongate leg having an inner surface; a tongue extending from said inner surface of said second component to be received in said groove of said first component as said slider'is moved along said first and second components;

said elongate leg of said first component having an end;

a terminal interengaging element on said first tape spaced from said end; and

said second component including a guide tooth extending from said elongate leg to be received in said space between said end of said elongate leg of said first component and said terminal interengaging element of said first tape to align said first and second components as said slider is moved along said first and second components.

2. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner surfaces of said first and second components include opposed portions positioned to contact each other to define a pivot point for movement of said first and second components toward each other as said slider is moved therealong.

3. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said tongue has an edge defining a pivot point between the inner surfaces of said first and second components.

4. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongate legs have diverging portions extending outwardly from the longitudinal center of said slide fastener.

5. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongate leg of said first component has a flared portion to abut said side wall means and limit movement of said slider.

6. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 and further comprising another slider movable to control engagement of said interengaging elements and a pair of stop members secured to said first and second tapes to limit movement of said other slider.

7. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said interengaging eleements extend along said first and second tapes to junctions with said first and scond components, respectively, and said first and second components have portions near said junctions with configurations corresponding to the configuration of said channel through said slider such that said slider is moved to a position covering said junctions by the bearing of said outer surfaces of said first and second components against said walls of said slider caused by said stress on said tapes.

8. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer surfaces of said first and second components each has a portion diverging outwardly from the longiverging portion and said tongue has an angled edge tndmal center of said slide fastener to bear against said aligned with Said diverging portion of said inner Surface side wall means of said slider.

9. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said second component defines a diof said second component. 

1. A slide fastener comprising first and second tapes having inner edges and carrying interengaging elements along the inner thereof; a slider having side wall means and movable to control engagement of said interengaging elements; said slider having a Y-shaped channel therethrough defined by said side wall means; separating end stop means at one end of said first and second tapes for limiting movement of said slider and permitting separation of said first and second tapes; said end stops means formed of first and second components secured to said first and second tapes, respectively, and having spaced outer surfaces contoured to contact said side wall means of said slider as said slider is moved in a direction toward the one end and along said first and second components to pivotally move said first and second components relative to and toward each other to stress said tapes, said stress on said tapes causing said outer surfaces of said first and second components to bear against said side wall means of said slider to move said slider in another direction away from the one end and along said first and second components; said first component including an elongate leg having an inner surface; a wedge extending from said inner surface and having a groove therein; said second component including an elongate leg having an inner surface; a tongue extending from said inner surface of said second component to be received in said groove of said first component as said slider is moved along said first and second components; said elongate leg of said first component having an end; a terminal interengaging element on said first tape spaced from said end; and said second component including a guide tooth extending from said elongate leg to be received in said space between said end of said elongate leg of said first component and said terminal interengaging element of said first tape to align said first and second components as said slider is moved along said first and second components.
 2. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner surfaces of said first and second components include opposed portions positioned to contact each other to define a pivot point for movement of said first and second components toward each other as said slider is moved therealong.
 3. A slide fasteNer as recited in claim 1 wherein said tongue has an edge defining a pivot point between the inner surfaces of said first and second components.
 4. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongate legs have diverging portions extending outwardly from the longitudinal center of said slide fastener.
 5. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongate leg of said first component has a flared portion to abut said side wall means and limit movement of said slider.
 6. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 and further comprising another slider movable to control engagement of said interengaging elements and a pair of stop members secured to said first and second tapes to limit movement of said other slider.
 7. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said interengaging eleements extend along said first and second tapes to junctions with said first and scond components, respectively, and said first and second components have portions near said junctions with configurations corresponding to the configuration of said channel through said slider such that said slider is moved to a position covering said junctions by the bearing of said outer surfaces of said first and second components against said walls of said slider caused by said stress on said tapes.
 8. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer surfaces of said first and second components each has a portion diverging outwardly from the longitudinal center of said slide fastener to bear against said side wall means of said slider.
 9. A slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said second component defines a diverging portion and said tongue has an angled edge aligned with said diverging portion of said inner surface of said second component. 